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CENTRAL COAST—The first strong rain since May ventured into the Monterey Bay Tuesday afternoon and is expected to soak the Central Coast on and off over the next several days. Anna Schneider, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Monterey, said the moisture is...

Congressman gives update to Aptos community Congressman Jimmy Panetta speaks with Pajaro Valley Unified School District board president Leslie DeRose on Aug. 14 during a luncheon presented by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce at the Best Western Seacliff Inn. Panetta, who was the guest speaker, described what he has been working on in Congress over the past year. He said many people across the country are "overwhelmed" and "confused" at the actions of the White House and Congress, stressing the importance of Republicans and Democrats working together to solve issues. "It feels like we have been governing on flurry," Panetta said. "It's time we govern on focus. You have to work with the other side to get things done." About 90 people were in attendance.

Known as the "Cabrillo College Promise," the college is offering, for the first time, a free year of tuition for any graduating senior from a Santa Cruz County high school. Vice President of Student Services Sue Gochis said costs are prohibiting many potential students from attending a college, even to a relatively affordable community college such as Cabrillo.

Santa Cruz County Historic Resources Commission unanimously approved restoration plans for the exterior of the historic Hihn Apple Barn on May 12. 

Photo by LIFE photographer Tarmo Hannula These men enjoy a visit to Rio del Mar State Beach Thursday during a king tide. Meteorologist Scott Rowe of the National Weather Service Monterey said there is also a chance of some coastal flooding with a chance of rain Thursday evening and into next week. Rowe said beach visitors should be cautious as they get near the shore.

Martin Pollock was deployed to Afghanistan after he completed training in the British Army. He was severely injured just four months later in a blast that took both legs and his left arm. After five years of rehabilitation, he was ready to get active, and he did so by trying various sports such as skiing and water skiing. Pollock, 34, said he finally found what he was searching for with surfing.

When the Capitola Begonia Festival wrapped up its 65-year run in 2017, many in the community refused to let it go.

Add another pair of accomplishments to Hannah Hocom’s impressive 2017-18 season. The Aptos High star junior basketball player was named an Academic All-American by the National High School Coaches Association late last month, and also earned a spot on Cal-Hi Sports’ All-State Underclassmen Third Team. A starting guard for the Mariners each of the last three seasons, Hocom was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player after leading Aptos to its first league title since the 2000-01 season. This newspaper also selected the 5-foot-9 sharpshooter as our Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

A group of community members came together on April 3 at the Watsonville Public Library to discuss the state of health in Santa Cruz County. The United Way of Santa Cruz County and Applied Survey Research (ASR) hosted the conference, which was held to promote National Public Health Week. Speakers from both organizations as well as First 5 Santa Cruz County spoke about their partnership with the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program. Susan Brutschy of Applied Survey Research explained how County Health Rankings & Roadmaps has helped paint a broader picture of the triumphs and shortcomings of health in Santa Cruz County. Every year, the rankings seek to provide snapshots of the state of health in areas all over the U.S.

In a roomful of elected officials and non-profit agencies from all corners of Santa Cruz County, Second Harvest Food Bank revealed San Juan Bautista-based True Leaf Farms as its choice for 2019 Food Industry Donor of the Year. The ceremony served as the lunch event...